1974 Buffalo Bills season
| 1974 Buffalo Bills season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Lou Saban |
| Owner | Ralph Wilson |
| Home field | Rich Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–5 |
| Division place | 2nd AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Lost AFC Divisional Playoff |
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| Scoring summary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | BUF | J.D. Hill 24 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick) | Bills 7–0 | |
| 2 | OAK | George Blanda 34 yard field goal | Bills 7–3 | |
| 3 | OAK | Clarence Davis 15 yard run (George Blanda kick) | Raiders 10–7 | |
| 4 | OAK | George Blanda 41 yard field goal | Raiders 13–7 | |
| 4 | BUF | Ahmad Rashad 8 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick) | Bills 14–13 | |
| 4 | OAK | Art Thoms 29 yard fumble return (George Blanda kick) | Raiders 20–14 | |
| 4 | BUF | Ahmad Rashad 13 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick) | Bills 21–20 | |
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| Scoring summary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bills | John Leypoldt 45 yard field goal | Bills 3–0 | |
| 1 | Patriots | Mack Herron 43 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick) | Patriots 7–3 | |
| 1 | Bills | John Leypoldt 20 yard field goal | Patriots 7–6 | |
| 2 | Patriots | Mack Herron 20 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick) | Patriots 14–6 | |
| 2 | Bills | Ahmad Rashad 25 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (kick failed) | Patriots 14–12 | |
| 2 | Patriots | Sam Cunningham 31 yard run (John Smith kick) | Patriots 21–12 | |
| 2 | Bills | O.J. Simpson 1 yard run (John Leypoldt kick) | Patriots 21–19 | |
| 3 | Bills | Dave Washington 72 yard interception return (John Leypoldt kick) | Bills 26–21 | |
| 3 | Patriots | Mack Herron 2 yard run (John Smith kick) | Patriots 28–26 | |
| 4 | Bills | John Leypoldt 47 yard field goal | Bills 29–28 | |
The 1974 Buffalo Bills season was the 15th season for the club in pro football and fifth in the National Football League (NFL). Buffalo made the NFL playoffs for the first time, and reached the postseason for the first time in eight seasons.
Buffalo debuted their new uniforms and helmets in 1974, replacing the red "standing buffalo" with the "streaking bison." The look first shown to a national audience on the first Monday Night Football game of the season, in a dramatic 21–20 victory over Oakland.
Star running back O.J. Simpson, coming off consecutive rushing titles, did not lead the league in 1974, but did cross the 1,000-yard barrier despite a sore knee.
Buffalo's defense was far more stout than it had been in previous years, as it gave up 3,489 yards in 1974, fifth-fewest in the NFL. The Bills' 1,611 passing yards allowed were the third-best in the league.
The 1974 Bills have the odd distinction of being the last team to go a full game without completing a pass, in Week Three of the season against the New York Jets. Despite this, they still managed to defeat the Jets, behind 223 combined Buffalo rushing yards—as well as only 2 completions by Jets quarterback Joe Namath in 18 attempts.
Oklahoma State tight end Reuben Gant played his entire seven-year career with the Bills. Quarterback Gary Marangi was the Bills' backup quarterback for three seasons; in 1976, he started the final seven games of the season when starter Joe Ferguson was injured for the season with a back injury.
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